Ousted MEPs give the boot from Brussels in next month’s elections will walk away with golden goodbyes worth up to £157,000.

A guide for politicians ahead of the poll on May 22 shows how even if they are rejected by voters they can still pocket up to two years’ salary to help them to ‘transition’ to life in the real world.

With Ukip expected to win the elections in Britain and Lib Dems facing the wipeout of all its MEPs, the taxpayer will be left with a huge six-figure bill.

MEPs leaving Brussels after the elections on May 22 are in line for generous golden goodbyes

A YouGov poll for the Sunday Times gave Ukip an outright advantage in the European election contest for the first time, with 31 per cent support compared with 28 per cent for Labour, and the Tories languishing in third on 19 per cent.

A total of 73 MEPs will be elected on May 22, with several representing each region in the UK.

The more votes each party gets in each region, the more of the MEPs it is allocated.